Jimi

[Chris P]

Was Jimi Hendrix the last truly great musician of note in our times? Or has someone come since of that Bird, Coltrane, Miles, Jimi musicality, synthesis & originality?

[Adam Blake]

Depends on what culture you're looking at. As far as the electric guitar is concerned, I don't think anyone has topped Jimi. There are a great many virtuosos but I don't think any of them could play the intro to "Little Wing" so beautifully, or indeed murmur "aw shucks" under their breath as they play the blues as it is heard on long wave radios in the outer galaxies...

[Chris P]

haha, Jimi's voice & style, not to mention that singing voice, is one of the wonders. And a fine lyricist & sense of 'humour'. Did he play guitar too then? wow

Well what apart from electric guitar & the 'culture' you refer to Adam (Western? Guitar? Rock?), who is there of that stature, universality & character? I know there have been many mind blowingly good singers (Nusrat, Aruna Sairam etcetcetcetc), but I'm talking human made (and interplanetary, natch) musical instruments

Anyone? Or is Jimi the most recent universal great, blue & yellow & green planet, musician

[will vine]

Was Jimi Hendrix the last truly great musician of note in our times? Or has someone come since of that Bird, Coltrane, Miles, Jimi musicality, synthesis & originality?

I guess, in putting up those four names you're looking for someone whose approach to playing defied or extended the logic of what had gone before creating something genuinely new and inspirational. I'm sure there are plenty truly great musicians still around.

I haven't actually come up with an answer to your question have I?

[Chris P]

you haven't come up with an answer, but I reckon that's a great contribution, wording's so good, put with additional clarity, Will. More sarsparilla, Irish cream liqeur, or homemade moussaka anyone?
rest assured that flavours combination isn't going on

[Rob Hall]

Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou?

She seems to fit the criteria?

[NormanD]

Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou?

She seems to fit the criteria?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUlz4_J ... 4DA07F8169

Good call, Rob. She's new to me.

[Chris P]

surprising but wonderful

[NormanD]

Will listen more later. Richard Dawson on BBC6 right now (good, or even very good, but not a thread contender).

What about Ornette Coleman?

[Chris P]

yes Norman (although not "who since Jimi?" - topic of thread. And Emahoy's first record was 1967 Rob). This thread may wander (wonder) where it will. Great to listen to Emahoy again after a long gap, thanks Rob

[Jonathan E.]

Not to knock Jimi's extraordinary musicality, but it seems to me that a significant part of his legend is due to his astounding showmanship at a time when there was a lot of competition around (to put it mildly) and also when that level of over-the-top exhibition was a relatively new feature of musical expression.

When it comes to new names, I'll admit to some caution but I'll propose Youssou N'Dour and perhaps Quantic as possible contenders. Both create a wide variety of meticulously detailed and adventurous music, some of it very good, although it's worthy noting that Jimi could be spotty with his success.

[Chris P]

any good Quantic YT samples Jon E?

I'd have thought Toumani Jobarteh, belongs on this thread. Youssou's a singer, and we were talking about musicians who play built* instruments. Still we've done plenty of thread drift at sotw over the years, it can often be interesting.

*or found!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkuq6prZHoA

[Jonathan E.]

I must admit that still, after all these years, I am not fluent enough in YouTuberism to quote chapter & url re any particular Quantic clips. Take pity or laugh as you will. If I had many more hours in the day, I am sure I would catch up.

I am fond of his Ondatropica and Flowering Inferno adventures. Ondatropica presented several new and exciting sounds to me, which is an increasingly rare experience after my 45 year addiction. His Combo Barbara came on overly stringy at first but I find myself going back to it. And some of the Quantic Soul Orchestra is also appealing in a relax-and-enjoy-it way.

And, having remained an LP sort of listener, I mostly put the albums on and let them run even if that means a CD these days. I remain convinced that even with only moderately good consumer equipment a CD will almost always sound better than even a good mp3 or streaming. That isn't to say that either purely digital source doesn't, or can't, provide a perfectly adequate representation of the essential concepts behind the music. You can find this stuff with the usual keystokes if you're really interested, but I lean towards the physical realm for the old-style enjoyment.

His 2014 Magnetico was a mixed affair with some ponderous electronic beats juxtaposed with rootsy accoustiana. You couldn't accuse it of not being daring and rather excitingly balanced.

Quantic also has an earlier body of work. It's more in the soul funky retro dance vein of the 90s looking back to some neon afterglow of the 70s. I'm still trying to find something in that catalog that really wows me. But a lot of people love it and I don't shudder when I hear it, which is a start.

[Jonathan E.]

PS . . . but, the new Jimi? No effing way. How could anyone follow Jimi? Although Pete Townsend was once so deluded as to think so in his case. At Monterey. He just escaped with his life. I mean, hell, that Monterey performance of Jimi's is a complete masterwork. A astonishing archetypal performance and the sonics are tremendous. Feedback never sounded so good!

No! There is no new Jimi!